Why would an employee ever turn down a $200 a month raise? Jody Dow with The Springfield Dream Center explains the “Cliff Effect” that exists in the state of Missouri for people who are employed and on state or federal assistance. “You may be getting $500 in food stamps, and your raise is only increasing your pay that month by $200. Well, that’s a $300 discrepancy.” In the state of Missouri, assistance is all or nothing. The Dream Center helps workers in this situation learn how to prepare for in advance for a pay increase that results in a gap in monthly income.